Garlic

Greek athletes gobbled garlic before Olympic games to boost their stamina. They knew what modern science has confirmed: Garlic is as healthful as its aroma is pungent.

Hardiness: Grown as an annual.

Planting advice: Autumn planting allows the cloves time to develop roots before winter, which then accelerates growth in spring.

Winter planting is popular in milder regions. Place cloves 2 to 3 inches deep and 3 to 5 inches apart, with the tips pointing up.

In cold regions, cover the soil with several inches of mulch after the ground freezes. You may see green shoots before winter; that's OK. Weed around the bulbs carefully in spring, and water as needed.

Harvest tips: When two-thirds of the tops are dried out, probably in July or August, dig around the bulbs and remove them. Don't pull on the stems. String plants together and hang them to dry. Whole bulbs will keep for months in cool, dry storage.